Tricyrtis plant named ‘Imperial Banner’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Tricyrtis  plant characterized by its unique, white-variegated foliage, compact, upright habit, and large purple spotted flowers.

Botanical denomination: Tricyrtis sp.

Variety designation: ‘Imperial Banner’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Tricyrtis, and giventhe cultivar name is ‘Imperial Banner’. Tricyrtis is in the familyLiliaceae. The plant is mutation of Tricyrtis ‘Empress’ (not patented).It was found in tissue cultured material in Canby, Oreg.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new cultivar unique and characterized by:

-   -   1. Unique, white-variegated foliage    -   2. Compact, upright habit    -   3. Large purple spotted flowers

This new cultivar has been reproduced only by asexual propagation(division and tissue culture). Each of the progeny exhibits identicalcharacteristics to the new cultivar. Asexual propagation by tissueculture using standard micropropagation techniques with lateral shootsas done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristics anddistinctions come true to form and are established and transmittedthrough succeeding propagations. The present invention has not beenevaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype ofthe plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows the flower and flower bud of a three year old Tricyrtis‘Imperial Banner’ taken in July and growing in a two gallon container inthe shade house in Canby, Oreg.

FIG. 2 shows the foliage of a 2 year old plant growing in a two galloncontainer in the shade house in Canby, Oreg.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Tricyrtis cultivarbased on observations of a three year old specimen grown in a two gallonpot in an open air shade house with 50% shade in Canby, Oreg. Canby isZone 8 on the USDA Hardiness map. Temperatures range from a high of 95degrees F. in August to 32 degrees F. in January. Normal rainfall inCanby is 42.8 inches per year. The color descriptions are all based onThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Plant:    -   -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zones 6 to 9.        -   Size.—Grows to 30 cm wide and 60 cm tall from the top of the            soil to the top of the inflorescence.        -   Form.—With short rhizomes forming a compact clump.-   Stem:    -   -   Type.—Branched, erect stems.        -   Size.—Main stem 20 to 60 cm long and 2 to 4 mm wide,            laterals grow to 20 cm long and 2 mm wide.        -   Surface texture.—Pubescent.        -   Stem number.—22.        -   Number of leaves per stem.—3 to 10 main stem leaves with            leafy flowering branches from each.        -   Internode length.—1 to 6.5 cm.        -   Color.—Yellow Green 152B (to Greyed Brown 199B at base on            large stems).-   Leaf:    -   -   Type.—Simple.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to narrowly elliptic.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Blade length.—Grows to 10.5 cm.        -   Blade width.—Grows to 3.5 cm.        -   Margins.—Entire, pubescent, and strongly undulating.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate and curling.        -   Base.—Clasping.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Surface texture.—Glabrous on upper surface, bottom surface            is pubescent on main veins.        -   Venation.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Topside: margins and centers Green 137A, banded            Yellow 4D between the main veins with stronger variegation            on top most leaves. Bottom side; Green 137B, banded Yellow            4D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Axillary.        -   Number of flowers per stem.—56 on a 60 cm stem.        -   Number of flowers per cyme.—1 to 5 for axillary cyme and 1            to 13 for a terminal cyme.        -   Pedicel description.—Grows from 1 to 2 cm long, pubescent,            Yellow Green 148A.        -   Bloom time.—August to October in Canby, Oreg.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—1.6 cm long and 5 mm wide.        -   Shape.—Oblong, narrowing above the base.        -   Surface texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Greyed Yellow 162D at the bottom ⅓ changing to Greyed            Purple 187B on the top ⅓ with the tips Greyed Purple 187A.-   Flower:    -   -   Type.—Actinomorphic, up facing, with segments free.        -   Shape.—Stellate.        -   Size.—Grows to 2.5 cm deep and 3.8 cm wide.        -   Texture.—Waxy.        -   Surface texture.—Glabrous inside, pubescent outside.        -   Color.—White 155A with large 1 mm oval spots of Red Purple            71A.        -   Corolla description.—6 tepals, oblong, entire, reflexed, 2.6            cm long and 5 mm wide, acute, outer tepals with saccate spur            at the base.        -   Pistil description.—2.3 cm. long, ovary 2.3 cm long and            Yellow Green 145A, style 5 mm long, White 155A with spots of            Red Purple 71A, stigma 3-parted, bifid at the tips,            glandular, each branch is 7 mm long and colored White 155A            with spots of Red Purple 71A.        -   Stamen.—6, filaments 2.4 cm long, White 155A with spots of            Red Purple 71A, anthers 2.5 mm long and Greyed Purple 187A,            male sterile, no pollen produced.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Fruit:    -   -   Type.—Capsule.        -   Size.—2 cm long and 3 mm wide.        -   Shape.—Narrowly oblong, 3 angled.        -   Color.—Yellow Green 144D.-   Seed: None produced, sterile.-   Pest and diseases: Snail and slugs are the main problems on    Tricyrtis. This new cultivar has leathery waxy leaves and appears to    be less appealing to slugs. No other problems have been observed on    plant grown under commercial conditions in Canby, Oreg.

COMPARISONS TO SIMILAR TRICYRTIS

Compared to the other variegated Tricyrtis on the market, Tricyrtis‘Imperial Banner’ has the narrow leaf and short compact habit ofTricyrtis ‘Empress’ combined with a variegation color of cream and deepgreen and a variegation pattern that goes to the middle of the leafrather than only on the leaf edges.

Compared to the parent Tricyrtis ‘Empress’ this new variety has smallermore undulating leaves and strong variegation.

1. A new and distinct hybrid Tricyrtis plant as herein shown anddescribed.